How much are you paying for gas? And has it changed your routine at the gym? For me I can't go as often, and I find myself looking for ways to workout at home, but I don't have a treadmill or anything else at home. I have a 3 year old still at home, so going for a run is not an option. Maybe I need a good exercise video or a jump rope or something.

Sun. Jun 1, 8:24pm

I am down to 3 days/week from 5.

I am walking instead.

Sunday, June 01, 2008, 8:26 PM

saving money

I cancelled my gym membership to save money on the gym AND gas. I have kids, too. You can get a cheap treadmill or elliptical off Craigslist or do a video or get something from On Demand (if you have that cable service). My kids LOVE to exercise with me if I'm doing something on the floor, or they like to dance or do somersaults or whatever in front of me if I'm on the)elliptical. I'm not going anywhere, so they're thrilled to have a captive audience!

Sunday, June 01, 2008, 8:39 PM

My gym, and just about everything I need, except for school is within walking distance. The gym is my haven from stress, so I'm very happy I haven't had to give it up. Too many distractions at home to work out there.

Monday, June 02, 2008, 2:41 AM

yes, i actually refuse to drive anywhere less than 5 miles, including the gym. i've taken up yoga and pilates and walk to the studio- i HATE $4/gallon gas!!!

Monday, June 02, 2008, 9:33 AM

if you live in an area that has comcast cable, there are free workouts in the "on demand" section under exercise tv. skip the gym and do a class in your living room.

Monday, June 02, 2008, 12:02 PM

yes gas here is up to 3.94 a gallon so I cut out my weekend gym visits. My gym is closer to my job which is 17 miles from my house. It saves me gas on the way home since I'm not in traffic but I can't afford to drive 40 miles roundtrip just to go to the gym on the weekends. I've started running through my neighborhood instead, I do videos and we have an elliptical machine.
I love the gym and i love going after work so I had to find other ways to cut back.

Monday, June 02, 2008, 12:55 PM

It hasn't really cut into my gym time, as my gym is fairly close to where I live. The price of groceries, however, has REALLY cut into my healthy eating. It's ridiculous.

Monday, June 02, 2008, 7:01 PM

7:01 - so how has your grocery shopping/eating changed? I still spend the money on the fruits and vegetables, although I'm doing more frozen, but I'm probably buying fewer processed foods as prices go up. It may help that I'm ditching the meat and dairy...

I still drive to the gym, but I am walking a lot more to do other business like grocery shop, doctor's appointments, library, etc.

Monday, June 02, 2008, 7:19 PM

This is 7:01.
I've been eating a lot less meat. Which isn't really a bad thing, I guess. I usually only really eat chicken anyway. But I'm also eating less fruit and vegetables.

Monday, June 02, 2008, 11:09 PM

Can anyone reccmmend a good video to buy?

op here

Thank you so much! No one else at the YMCA(my gym) has mentioned they are cutting back.

I felt a little embarrassed to even talk about it there. The grocery issue is another subject. I am spending about $200/week to feed my family of 5!

I don't have comcast, cable, etc... how about any reccomendations on a good exercise video?

Tuesday, June 03, 2008, 2:26 AM

I bought my first workout DVD in years last month - it was a Jillian Michael's workout and I LOVE it! It's the 30 Day Shred.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008, 2:55 AM

Video Recommendation

It depends on what you want to try. Go to :

www.collagevideo.com

I have been buying my DVDs there for over 5 years, they have reviews from staff memembers and customers. Best part ?! You can return it if you don't like it. They are great.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008, 11:15 AM

Price of Food

I agree on the food. I started a thread on that a couple of months ago an nearly got my head cut off! I have found that since the price of food is going up I have to make foods that will last longer and cut back on veggies. its easier now since there are farmers markets but its hard to eat healhty with the price of food. I spend about $350 a month of food for both me and my husband. We really don't eat out much and both bring our lunches to work every day.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008, 11:17 AM

I think the grocery shopping controversy was around the idea that eating on a budget and eating healthfully were mutually exclusive :)

Tuesday, June 03, 2008, 11:56 AM

LOL I find the whole concept of driving to the gym to get exercise is flawed...

Tuesday, June 03, 2008, 9:07 PM

>>The grocery issue is another subject. I am spending about $200/week to feed my family of 5! <<

Yikes, that's a lot of money! Have you checked out frugal groups on the internet? People are figuring out ways to eat healthier and save money, and sharing all the hints and tips. Try visiting hillbillyhousewife.com or joining frugal_moms_living (a yahoo group). They've taught me a lot about shopping CVS & Walgreens for sale items with coups and getting back ECBs & register rewards. And grocery sales with coups & double coups. Some of them are routinely getting $200 worth of groceries for $100 or less. Also, it's farmer's market time now and you can get farm fresh organic produce for a lot less than in the grocery stores.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008, 9:15 PM

Even more flawed is driving around and around in the gym parking lot to get a close parking space :)

I have to belong to a gym or I won't work out - at least not regularly. I even have home gym equipment, but it's too easy for me to blow it off b/c it's always there! Now, if I have to make the effort to drive myself to the gym - I'm going to work my a$$ off!!

Tuesday, June 03, 2008, 10:09 PM

Just get a bike and ride to the gym instead.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008, 2:36 AM

Can't I just feel good that I get to the gym and have great workouts?! I'm doing quite a bit to cut back on consumption - gas, food, energy, etc. And I'm not complaining - can't I just drive my butt to the gym , knock out a few other errands along the way, and feel good about it? ;)

Wednesday, June 04, 2008, 9:53 AM

Walk ifyou have a sidewalk!

Hey for me, I live in country, on an old non working farm. The road has changed into a superhighway. Walking and jogging are kind of out unless you have a death wish.

I go to the gym but add on errands and banking to make the best out of my gas mileage.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008, 11:14 AM

the price of gas hasn't cut into any of my routines or spending.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008, 11:16 AM

My gym is 20 miles from where I live so no, I am not going to walk, or bike there. Driving is the only option.

As for food I spend $800 / month on groceries for just my husband and myself. I buy hardly any processed foods, all fresh fruits and veggies (can you believe an advocado for $1.99), specialty mutli grain breads, meats come from costco as does fish, and the grocery bill is going up each month !

Wednesday, June 04, 2008, 11:28 AM

The price of gas and groceries aren't really affecting my life either...

I do live about 30 miles from where I work (1 way!) because we can't afford a home so close to the city. I just pay for my gas and go about my business.

As far as grocery shopping we tend to buy everything on sale anyway, we shop at least once a week and only get what we absolutely need: food does not go to waste in our house! I buy all fresh produce, chicken, meats etc. We eat SOME processed foods but not many...

Wednesday, June 04, 2008, 1:30 PM

I just found a group called angel food ministries (angelfoodministries.com).

A Christian group organized by each state to purchase bulk food at great savings and distribute it monthly to those willing to chip in for the purchase.

Amazing. You can see what they are purchasing each month and decide whether you want in for the purchase. I am going to spend $90, for what I estimate to be about $160+ in food if I was to purchase it here.

If I can save a little here and there it will add up!

Wednesday, June 04, 2008, 3:18 PM

HOW ABOUT HOME GYM VS THE REAL THNG?

OP here
Is a home gym the now rage? How much would that cost to start up? Do I really need high tech, or can lifting a can of green beans substitue for the real thing?

Thursday, June 05, 2008, 6:44 AM

building the home gym

I don't like any of my local gym options, so have been looking at a home gym for some time. My advice, particularly if you are in an urban area, is to monitor cragislist for used stuff. What I see is:

- a lot of good weight sets and benches for sale cheap
- a lot of flimsy exercise machines I wouldn't buy
- occasional really good exercise machines in the $200-$300 range

Now, I am looking for some thick rubber matting like they have in gyms to put down over my hardwood floor in one room. Does anyone know where I can get that?

Thursday, June 05, 2008, 7:27 AM

I was told that the rubber matt they use in barns (mostly for horses?) is the same stuff and far less expensive that that sold for gyms - may not be is such pretty colors. Heavy though - you need to have help and a truck or lots of rope when you go to the farm and feed store to purchase it!

Thursday, June 05, 2008, 1:28 PM

Make sure you don't garage sale for that item, ,especially a BARN SALE!!!! eww

Friday, June 06, 2008, 2:18 PM

Thats crazy! Maybe you all should trade in your cars for something more economical. Or find a gym closer to home so you don't have to go out of your way or possibly even walk there. Even with a 3 yr old you can still walk. Plop them in a stroller with a few toys and walk, wtf? Stop your bitching about gas prices, we still have the cheapest gas in the world. Isreal pays $7-8 a gallon, Europe is not far behind. You people have no idea what the hell real hardships are, all of us Americans, me included, take things for granted. I realize some families will really struggle with the way things are going but you also have to realize that we need to find alternatives and stop relying on foreign sources but we can't really do that here because some other group will object for some reason or another. My point is you can always find ways to make things work. 4 years ago I was 20K in debt, working a shit job for $7.50 hour and paying rent and other bills on top of it all. Sold my car and hoofed it or took the bus, lived off of $25 a week for food and managed to somehow pay off my debt and pay for my other living stuff in 3 years. Anything is possible if you sit down, come up with a plan and stick to it.

Friday, June 06, 2008, 8:07 PM

tHIS IS NOT ABOUT GLOBAL GAS PRICES LADY

op here
8:07
You are the biggest whiner of all. The fact is we all have to adjust because of the recent increase in everything.

You want a medal for living off $25/week? Write a book, we'll read about it there. No one here is even pissing about how much they do or don't make. No one is complaining about how much in debt they are. You must have clicked the wrong thread lady. This isn't the PITTY ME PAGE!

This thread is about getting ideas from other people on how they have re-adjusted their workouts, or created home gym ideas, or are riding bikes, or walking more. There are great ideas here.

I'm even looking for a rubber barn mat now!!!!

There are great people on PT who have ideas to share. You seem to be the only one who knows what the hell hardship is, so start your own thread. Maybe someone there will care.